Fr. James Fedor – Diocese of Scranton

| Nov 20, 2018 | Abuser Profiles, Catholic Church

Father James Fedor

Diocese of Scranton


Ordained: 1973

Leave of Absence: 1991-1994

Laicized (removed from priesthood): 1994

Assigned as follows:

  • 1973-1977: Holy Trinity (Swoyersville, PA)
  • 1977-1979: St. Peter (Scranton, PA)
  • 1979-1980: St. John the Evangelist (Scranton, PA)
  • 1980-1982: St. Rose of Lima (Carbondale, PA)
  • 1982-1983: St. Patrick (Scranton, PA)
  • 1983: St. Mary (Avoca, PA)
  • 1983-1984: Holy Family Residence (Scranton, PA)
  • 1984-1985: St. Joseph (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
  • 1985-1986: Holy Ghost (Olyphant, PA)
  • 1986-1987: Christ the King (Dunmore, PA)
  • 1987-1991: Holy Family Residence (Scranton, PA)
  • 1991-1994: Leave of Absence

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father James Fedor:

Father James Fedor was ordained a priest in 1973, who served in multiple parishes in the Diocese of Scranton. According to the PA Grand Jury Report, from 1981 to 1986, Father Fedor sought counseling for his sexual attraction to young girls. From 1986-1987, he received additional treatment, though the grand jury report is not clear as to whether this second attempt at treatment was mandated by the Diocese of Scranton.

According to media reports, in 1991, Bishop James Timlin gave Fedor an indefinite leave of absence, a highly unusual move unless there were major problems that meant it was better for Fedor to be absent from the Diocese of Scranton than to be working as a priest.  He was laicized by the Vatican in 1994.

In 2012, the Diocese of Scranton received a letter from an anonymous woman who said she was abused by Fedor from 1978-1980, starting when she was 10 years old.

Fedor’s name appears on the list of credibly accused priests released by the Diocese of Scranton in August 2018.  Because the Diocese policies do not allow the consideration of anonymous complaints to be investigated, this suggests that there is at least one other allegation against Fedor that was not discussed by the grand jury, but that the Diocese of Scranton’s review board deemed credible after investigation.

Fedor is believed to be residing in the Virginia Beach, Virginia, area.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Scranton. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Scranton may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Pennsylvania and nationwide. We can help.

Contact us at 888-283-9922 or [email protected] to discuss your options today.